Heroes in Grief

A native New Yorker turned Coloradan, Amanda McKoy Flanagan masterfully combines urban insights with a nature-inspired philosophy in her approach to love and loss. Certified intuitive loss + empowerment coach, writing coach, energy healer, and motivational speaker, Amanda is the author of the award-winning inspirational memoir Trust Yourself to Be All In: Safe to Love and Let Go and host of the Sol Rising podcast. Empowering individuals to navigate life's toughest transitions with clarity, healing, and creative expression, Amanda focuses on holistic wellness, guiding clients toward emotional and spiritual recovery by releasing trauma and regaining balance. Offering a transformative approach to living fully, Amanda provides actionable insights for overcoming challenges by embracing the power of one’s own inner wisdom, natural resilience, and capacity for change.

Links for Amanda:

Amanda's website: https://www.amandamckoyflanagan.com/

Sol Rising podcast:

'YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesolrisingpodcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sol-rising/id1675376192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sUF9yQkEXl5j925qqM1J1?si=a87c3eacafee4a28 

Amanda's book; "Trust Yourself to Be All In: Safe to Love and Let Go: https://amzn.to/4oYmL74

Amanda's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandamckoyflanagan/

Amanda's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandamckoyflanagan

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

My name is Megan, and I have been a Nurse since 2003. I have spent the majority of my career in Canada and the United States, working in Long Term Care and helping with death and dying. I have worked alongside hospice for the bulk of my career, understanding the complexities that come along with a terminal diagnosis. I am part of the Death Positive Movement, helping others accept that death is a reality and a natural part of our lifespan. By accepting this reality, I can help plan for your death and minimize the pain of your loss, by changing your grief into gratitude. 

Solace Through Death website: https://www.solacethroughdeath.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solacethroughdeath/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MegJL.S1/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Elreacy is a thanatologist, death educator, and certified grief educator with a background in global and behavioral health. Her multidisciplinary approach aims to advance public awareness while facilitating and contributing to critical discourse surrounding death, dying, and bereavement in our world. She is especially passionate about dismantling barriers that prevent access to equitable bereavement care and deathcare. Elreacy is currently serving as the Vice President of the National Home Funeral Alliance and a U.S. Ambassador to the Association for the Study of Death and Society. You can connect with her on instagram @elreacydock or via her website at www.elreacydock.com. 

David Kessler's website: www.grief.com

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

As an award-winning author and grief advocate, Sheila K. Collins discovered the transformative power of art in healing after enduring the loss of two adult children. A former dancer and social work professor, she began performing the book she wrote about her experiences of loss, Warrior Mother: Fierce Love, Unbearable Loss and the Rituals that Heal. On tour she realized how deeply our Western culture struggles with grief—fearing it and not knowing how to respond to others’ loss. This inspired her groundbreaking work in The Art of Grieving: How Art and Art Making Help Us Grieve and Live Our Best Lives, where she asks, “What if grieving were a skill we could practice and master, like an art form?” Sheila reveals how the arts—dance, music, storytelling, and more—are natural medicines that can help us metabolize loss and live fully, offering a fresh, hopeful perspective on grief.

Sheila K. Collins website: https://sheilakcollins.com/

Sheila's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/sheilakcollins

Book: 'The Art of Grieving: How Arts and Art-Making Help Us Grieve and Live Our Best Lives: https://amzn.to/45hxSz6

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

In 2007, at 27 years old, and after 7 years of being her Caregiver, Sundari Malcolm lost her mother to Breast Cancer. 4 years later, her father died from the complications of Brain Cancer. Those experiences redirected her life and she's made it her mission to equip people with the tools they need to manage life’s greatest transitions. Sundari is a Birth, Grief and Death Doula. She is a Yoga, Breathwork and Meditation teacher. A contributor to Help Texts and a Grief expert with the For Grief Speakers Bureau. She is the Author of the book Grief Gems and the founder of A Healing Doula Academy.

failure—grief and death doulas are more needed than ever.

OFFER:

If you’re listening and feel called to deepen your relationship with grief and death—and to hold them both as sacred—Sundari invites you into community. In these times of global shift and polycrisis—climate collapse, displacement, systemic.

As a gift to this podcast family, use code TOM20 for 20% off enrollment in A Healing Doula Academy. This is more than training—it’s a spiritual path, a return to ritual, and a container where transitions become sacred medicine.

Buy Sundari's Book 'Grief Gems' https://amzn.to/40N9ZxW

Here are a few more ways to connect with me!

Work With Me at A Healing Doula

Become A Student with The Academy

Hire Me To Speak As A Grief Expert

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Baylie's Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing tragedies and providing legal solutions for families facing medical dilemmas related to college life.

Background:

The foundation was established in memory of Baylie Grogan, who suffered catastrophic injuries during her sophomore year at the University of Miami due to a drugging incident that went tragically wrong. This led to her being hit by a car while attempting to navigate her way home, resulting in a six-week stay in intensive care before she passed away at the age of 19. Her story highlights the vulnerabilities young adults face and emphasizes the lack of adequate support systems in place at educational institutions.

Mission:

The mission of Baylie's Wish Foundation is to "be the change you wish to see in the world." The foundation focuses on several key areas:

Preventing Legal Challenges: It aims to create awareness and develop frameworks to help families navigate legal issues related to medical emergencies and college experiences.

Implementing Safety Education:

The foundation actively works on educational programs designed to prepare students for the hidden dangers they might encounter, including issues like substance abuse, date rape drugs, and personal safety while attending college.

Advocating for Legislative Change:

The organization seeks to introduce laws such as "Baylie's Law," which would require colleges to provide students with essential medical and legal forms, such as healthcare proxies and HIPAA release forms, upon admission.

Activities:

The foundation engages in various activities to fulfill its mission, including:

Public Speaking:

Shawnee Baker, Baylie's mother and co-founder, shares her story and important safety information with students, parents, and educators to raise awareness about the risks associated with college life.

Community Outreach:

It collaborates with local police and safety organizations to spread awareness and educate young adults on recognizing and responding to dangerous situations.

Publishing and Fundraising:

The foundation supports its mission through book sales and donations, with proceeds directed toward its programs and initiatives.

By advocating for policy change and fostering education on safety and legal preparedness, Baylie's Wish Foundation aims to create a safer environment for college students and prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies. It stands as a testament to Baylie’s legacy and the changes her story aims to inspire.

Book:

Baylie: A Life Shattered. A Promise Kept. A Secret Revealed: https://amzn.to/4md0znz

Website: https://www.baylieswish.org/

Helping Parents Heal: www.helpingparentsheal.org

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Ligia Houben MA, FT, FAAGC, CPC, CHT, is the founder of My Meaningful Life, LLC and The Center for Transforming Lives in Miami, Fl where she consults with individuals and families; by offering coaching/support, groups and workshops. Ligia is the author of four books on grief: The self-help book Transform Your Loss. Your Guide to Strength and Hope, Counseling Hispanics Through Loss, Grief, and Bereavement. A Guide for Mental Health Professionals, and Transforming Grief and Loss. Workbook (for coaches and mental health professionals). And her book in Spanish “Déjame vivir mi duelo…y sanar de adentro hacia afuera”.

Website: https://ligiahouben.com/

Books:

Allow Me to Live My Grief...: and Heal from the Inside Out: https://amzn.to/3IV3Ut1

Spanish edition: https://amzn.to/44PIp5L

Transform Your Loss: Your Guide to Strength and Hope: https://amzn.to/45epzoI

Spanish edition: https://amzn.to/4eYips5

Counseling Hispanics Through Loss, Grief, And Bereavement: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals: https://amzn.to/46RXWTL

Transforming Grief & Loss Workbook: Activities, Exercises & Skills to Coach Your Client Through Life Transitions: https://amzn.to/4nXWSE5

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Gwen Mysiak is on a very personal journey. She was doing communications for Public Broadcasting in Buffalo and was not looking for a career change. But in 2010, her cousin’s son received a terminal cancer diagnosis when he was 13. That’s when everything changed for her.

Gwen Connected with Brian Moorman, the former Bills Punter, who started P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative. P.U.N.T. stands for perseverance, understanding, need, and teamwork.

“I took over as Executive Director in 2012,” Mysiak said. “The one thing I learned when I started, is that there is a total lack of support for the bereaved population. Within a year I established a bereavement retreat here in Western New York. It’s modeled after the program that former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s Foundation was running. I brought it to Buffalo and for ten years we’ve been bringing families together for a Bereavement Retreat in Ellicottville.”

In addition, P.U.N.T provides financial, emotional and other support to families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

“It’s hard enough to think about a child having cancer, let alone not making it. But it’s those families who need us the most. Their hope is gone, their child is gone, their finances are decimated and they’re trying to figure out how to breathe again.”

Gwen's passion to help those who are bereaved has now expanded to help the whole Western New York area through the WNY Compassion Connection.

The mission of WNY Compassion Connection is to help grieving children and families navigate their journey to healing and resilience through the power of peer support and grief literacy within a safe, caring environment and through building up a grief sensitive community.

We envision a place where every grieving child and family finds the support, understanding, and resources they need to navigate their grief journey. We aim to create a community where healing, resilience, and hope flourish, empowering young people and families to thrive despite their loss.

WNY Compassion Connection: https://wnycompassionconnection.org/

P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative: https://puntpediatriccancer.org/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Liz Quinn is a writer, podcast host, and grieving mom who shares her story to help others feel less alone in theirs. After losing her daughter Alivia, and later both of her parents, Liz turned to writing and creating community as a way to process her grief and honor their memory.

She is the host of the Healing Hearts Podcast, and a co-author of Stories of Friends and Family Lost, an anthology of personal stories about love, loss, and the people we carry with us. Her next book—another collaborative anthology focused on healing—releases this August.

Through her podcast, blog, and writing, Liz speaks honestly about what it means to live with grief, and how healing often looks like learning to hold joy and sorrow at the same time.

Healing Hearts podcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/08PxtTeYYuaL31Ks1P2IYX?si=54580d631044412c

Blog Link: https://healingheartsreflections.blogspot.com/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

From Kim: I am a mother, teacher, speaker, writer and grief educator who tries to be a merchant of hope in this world as well as work hard as an advocate to draw awareness to grief, trauma, mental health and suicide prevention. Let's connect & collaborate!

Kim on Substack: https://substack.com/@hopefullykimberly

Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefullykimberly

GriefShare: https://www.griefshare.org/

WNY Compassion Connection: https://wnycompassionconnection.org/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!